Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, $499, www.dysoncanada.ca and The Bay.
The Product
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, $499, www.dysoncanada.ca and The Bay.
The Promise
Four years and nearly $100-million have gone into the creation of the Supersonic, Dyson's first-ever hair dryer that boasts precision airflow, reduced noise, lighter hand-held technology and intelligent heat control to deliver shiny, healthy and defined hair.
How it works
A powerful and compact digital motor sits in the handle (versus the head, as with conventional hair dryers) for better balance, while a glass bead thermistor measures the temperature of the air 20 times per second to keep it from getting too hot, protecting hair's natural shine. Patented Air Multiplier technology produces a high-velocity jet of air for faster and more controlled drying, and the magnetic attachments (a smoothing nozzle, styling concentrator and diffuser) are engineered to stay cool to the touch. A team of aero-acoustic engineers pushed the tone of the motor to a sound frequency beyond the audible range for humans, reducing the overall noise level.
How to use it
You can choose from four heat settings including a cold shot, and three airflow settings. Add the magnetic attachments for more precise functions – the smoothing nozzle dries gently allowing you to dry and style simultaneously; the styling concentrator directs airflow precisely so you can style section by section; the diffuser simulates natural drying for reduced frizz.
The bottom line
Is it fair to say Dyson is the Apple of household appliances? The products are sleek, their performance is hyped and the prices are steep. Cynic that I am, it makes me think that all that glitters isn't gold. (So what if I'm typing on a MacBook and vacuum up dog hair on the daily with a DC25 Animal? I didn't say I was immune to the hype.) This product really intrigued me, though. Aside from its nutty price tag, it was greedily guarded by Dyson until unveiled to press. To be honest, I thought the cloak-and-dagger was a bit over-the-top. But now I realize why. This is the best hair dryer to ever blow hot air on my head. And trust me, I know how crazy that sounds. But it's fast, light, effective and sexy as hell. I used the diffuser attachment and it gave me perfectly airy and defined curls in minutes. Sometimes, hype is real.